IDF says siren heard in western Negev a false alarm

An IDF statement said Thursday that the Color Red alert sounded earlier in the Sha'ar Hanegev and Sdot Negev regional council was a false alarm.

The alarm was sounded just after 11:15, after a rocket launch was identified by the military's detection system. The launch was initially believed to have culminated in an explosion, but that notion was later refuted.

The rocket fire on Israel was resumed on Tuesday, after 10 days of calm. One rocket landed in
the Ashkelon Coast regional Council.

The last rocket barrage on the Negev before Tuesday's attack took place on March 14.

Approximately 100 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at the western Negev since Operation Cast Lead ended.